Building a Living, Learning Network
FAN’s approach centers on three interconnected pillars that guide countries from learning to action and scale:
- FAN Foresight: on-demand technical support helping countries turn learnings into implementation for impact.
- FAN Forum: opportunities for country teams, regional partners, and global experts to share knowledge and insights.
“FAN is a new model that is helping countries to meet the moment through a global collaborative learning network,” said Amanda Folsom, Managing Director at R4D. “Demand has already exceeded expectations and it’s inspiring to witness the incredible energy and commitment by countries that are working to address NCDs.”
Measurable Progress in Year One
In its first year, FAN laid a strong foundation for collaboration and progress. The African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) was appointed as the first regional NCD Financing Accelerator, helping to strengthen coordination and create a truly living network in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Currently, FAN is working to support seven countries across the region—Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Somalia, and Uganda—each at different stages of their health financing reform journey.
“Governments and advocates across the region have engaged deeply with FAN,” said Rose Oronje, Deputy Executive Director and Head of Programmes at AFIDEP. “During our first collaborative workshop in Kenya, country groups shared experiences and best practices, learning from each other about what works in different contexts. With the FAN Fund’s catalytic seed grants, countries are beginning to explore ways to translate plans into practice.”
Since the first regional workshop in August, FAN country core groups have shaped their learning agendas and developed action plans to further advance the health financing agenda. Throughout the past 12 months, gatherings in Kigali, Kampala, and Nairobi have brought stakeholders together to align efforts on the ground.
Beyond country-level work, a Technical Advisory Group of global and regional health-financing experts has guided the network, alongside knowledge products, such as regional landscaping studies and technical briefs, offering actionable evidence for policymakers, donors, and implementing partners.
FAN has also helped elevate health financing for NCDs in global discussions, including the NCD Alliance Forum in Kigali, the World Health Assembly in Geneva, and the UN General Assembly in New York, ensuring that country needs remain central to ongoing global discussions.
Learning, Adapting, and Looking Ahead
The financing landscape is evolving. Epidemiological trends are placing NCDs at the center of health and development policy, external assistance for health is shifting, and governments are being asked to mobilize more domestic resources.
As FAN enters its second year, the network model continues to evolve. Lessons from the first year point to three drivers for accelerated progress: country-empowered solutions, cross-country learning, and targeted support for country initiatives. These insights are shaping FAN’s next phase: expanding into Latin America and the Caribbean this year, and later into Asia-Pacific, and deepening support for country teams as efforts scale.
The Way Forward
This year’s UN Political Declaration on NCDs and Mental Health reaffirmed a global commitment to action on health financing. FAN’s focus remains on helping countries translate this commitment into sustainable local financing solutions that improve access, quality, and equity in NCD prevention and care. The first year has shown that when countries lead and partners support, meaningful progress toward sustainable financing for NCDs can be achieved—ultimately benefiting people living with or at risk of NCDs, and the communities that support them.
